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Arches National Park

Friday, September 6, 2024 - Friday, September 13, 2024 -- $1725 ★

In the remote Utah backcountry, lies a magical world of naturally formed sandstone arches, canyons, mesas, and buttes called Arches National Park We will be day-hiking almost every established trail in this popular and colorful park. Colossal sandstone arches, monolithic rock faces, spires, windows, natural bridges, canyons and various other rock formations dot the landscape. While you may have to scramble over the rock terrain at times, mileages are low and rewards are often easy to come by. Everyone should see Arches once, even if they've never heard of Edward Abbey.


Our trek will visit just about every arch in the park that is accessible by established trail. We'll see many famous formations such as Delicate Arch (it's on the Utah license plate), Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock, The 3 Gossips and Double O Arch. Just about everywhere we'll hike has beautiful canyons and incredible mesas with visually stunning, unobstructed views.


Our mileage will be kept low and we will be carrying day packs only. In September, the days are still pretty warm. Expect great sunsets and amazing star-gazing.


If you prefer day-hiking only, this is the trip for you. Why not join us for an unforgettable trip?



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 80s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 100 and as low as 35, with a small chance of rain and on rare occasion, snow. Here is the historical Arches weather. Bring with lots of sun protection and water containers that add up to 6 liters of capacity.



Probable Trip Leaders

Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


The trails through Arches National Park are often easy to navigate and enjoyable to hike, but not always. There will be some sandy patches, slickrock with dropoffs and a few places where scrambling (using hands and butt) are necessary. It's pure hiking pleasure.



Cost

$1725 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC), as well as personal equipment, restaurant meals and any gratuities for guides. You may also be assessed parking charges if you drive in and leave your car at the hotel all week. Shuttling to the park may also be an option


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 6 nights in front country campgrounds, 5 days of trail meals, airport ground transportation, ground transport to/from/within Arches, National Park permits and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes


Day-Hiking / Base Camping only


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Sign Up For a Trip
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Map
 
 

Itinerary


Friday, September 6, 2024

Fly into Salt Lake City Airport (SLC). Plan to arrive by 1PM.

Take the free airport shuttle to our local hotel (TBD)

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Mini-equipment shakedown, following up your virtual shakedown done prior to the trip

Make-Your-Own Trail mix bar

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Buy last minute and forgotten items at REI Salt Lake City, 3285 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109, (801) 486-2100 for last minute equipment. Note: There is also plenty of equipment to be found in Moab

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Devil's Garden Campground, Arches National Park. Site(s): Canyon Wren Group Site Elevation: 5200'

Shuttling will take about 4 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at Devil's Garden Campground, Arches National Park. Site(s): Canyon Wren Group Site Elevation: 5200'


Saturday, September 7, 2024

Shuttle to Fisher Towers Campground, elevation 4740'

Day-Hike 4.2 round trip miles to Fisher Towers, max elevation 5460'

Shuttle to Arches National Park

Stop at the Visitors Center to watch a 10 minute video and pick up permit for Fiery Furnace

Shuttle to Balanced Rock, elevation 4950'

Day-Hike a 0.3 loop around Balanced Rock

Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Site TBD

Miles today: 4.5. Total miles: 4.5


Sunday, September 8, 2024

Shuttle to Delicate Arch Upper Viewpoint Trail, elevation 4350'

Day-Hike 1.5 miles to Delicate Arch, the iconic image of Arches, elevation 4750'

Day-Hike 1.5 miles back to shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 4350'

Shuttle to Delicate Arch Lower Viewpoint Trail, elevation 4300'

Day-Hike 0.5 miles to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint, elevation 4500'

Day-Hike 0.5 miles back to shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 4300'

Shuttle to Park Avenue Viewpoint, elevation 4550'

Day-Hike 1.0 miles on the Park Avenue Trail past the 3 Gossips to the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, elevation 4250'

Day-Hike 1.0 miles back to the shuttle vehicle(s)

Return to Devil's Garden Campground, elevation 5200'

Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Site TBD

Miles today: 6.0. Total miles: 10.5


Monday, September 9, 2024

Drive to Fiery Furnace Trailhead, elevation 4750'

Day-Hike 2.0 miles through Fiery Furnace. This trip will take at least 3 hours.

The following is directly from the Arches National Park Website

Everyone attending the tour should be aware of the demanding nature of this hike and properly equipped for current conditions. During the hike, participants must walk and climb on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs, and in loose sand. There are gaps which must be jumped and narrow places that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some of these places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet. Due to the maze-like nature of the terrain, all participants are committed to completing the hike once they enter the Fiery Furnace. To better judge the hike's difficulty, you can watch a video or view a photo gallery.


All participants must wear good hiking shoes or boots that have gripping soles. No sandals or high heeled shoes are allowed. Each person must carry at least one quart or liter of water. Water and other gear should be stowed in a backpack so that hands are free to be used to navigate the terrain.

 

Option B (Note: Re-entering the park could mean waiting an hour in line at the entrance station)

Drive out of the park to Deadhorse State Park, elevation 5900'

Day-hike 5.0 miles on the Rim Loop Trail, elevation 5900'

 

Return to Devil's Garden Campground, elevation 5200'

Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Site TBD

Miles today: 2.0 or 5.2. Total miles: 12.5 or 15.2


Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Drive on dirt and gravel road to the Tower Arch Trailhead, elevation 5100'

Day-Hike 2.2 miles to Tower Arch via the Marching Men, elevation 5100'

Day-Hike 2.2 miles back to the shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 5100'

Drive to Balanced Rock, have lunch here.

Drive to Double Arch Trailhead.

Day-Hike 0.5 round trip miles to Double Arch

Drive to the Windows Trail

Day-Hike 0.7 miles to Turret Arch, North Window and South Window

Day-Hike 0.7 miles on the Windows Primitive Loop Trail back to the shuttle vehicle(s)

Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Campsite TBD, elevation 5200'

Miles today: 6.3. Total miles: 18.8 or 21.5


Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Devil's Garden Trail

Day-Hike 0.4 miles to Tunnel Arch, elevation 5400'

Day-Hike 0.3 miles to Pine Tree Arch, elevation 5400'

Day-Hike 0.8 miles to Devil's Garden Primitive Loop Trail, elevation 5400'

Day-Hike 1.6 miles to Private Arch Trail, elevation 5400'

Day-Hike 0.3 round trip miles to Private Arch and back

Day-Hike 0.3 miles to Double O Arch

Day-Hike 0.4 miles to Dark Angel

Day-Hike 1.2 miles to trail intersection

Day-Hike 0.7 miles to Navajo Arch and Partition Arch

Day-Hike 1.1 miles past Landscape Arch back to the trailhead

Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Devil's Garden Campground

Drive to Pack Creek Campground

Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground -- Campsite TBD, elevation 5200'

Miles today: 9.1. Total miles: 27.9 or 30.6


Thursday, September 12, 2024

Day-hike 1.3 miles via Broken Arch to Sand Dune Arch

Day-hike 0.9 miles back to camp

End of hiking. Break camp

Miles today: 2.2. Total miles: 30.1 or 32.8

Shuttle 4 hours back to Salt Lake City

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

After body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

Gather your off-trail items from storage

After body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Friday, September 13, 2024

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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